DictionaryRoot: in-
Latin

in-

not; without

Forms

  • in-
  • im- — Used before b, m, or p in Latin.
  • il- — Used before l in Latin.
  • ir- — Used before r in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, the unstressed negative form associated with *ne, ‘not.’

Note

Unrelated to the Latin in- meaning ‘in’ or ‘into,’ despite their matching forms.

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Protective antibodies bind invading virus particles, restrained scientific illustration.
noun

immunity

ih-MYOO-nuh-tee/ɪˈmjuːnəti/

Protection from the effects of a specified threat.

Etymology

The pieces name a state of exemption from service or obligation. Legal immunity preserves this idea of exemption, while medical immunity applies it to protection from infectious disease.

Full entry

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